If you're a regular reader (and if so, thanks!), you'll notice I've reviewed a lot of Rieslings in this space lately. I'll apologize for the lack of variety. We are in white wine season, and I do like the varietal, for the most part; I think it's underrated and overlooked, as far as white wines go (and as far as white wines go, anything outside of the Big Three of pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc, and chardonnay doesn't exist.)
The hazard of sampling this many Rieslings is, of course, that we'll eventually light upon one that just isn't that great. And
Archive for Australian Wine
Layer Cake Shiraz
by Dennis Mayer on May 27th, 2011 | Australian Wine, Red Wine, Wine
Layer Cake might seem like a strange name for a wine. (Is it a flavored wine? Is it some sort of heavy-handed branding?) In this case, Australian winemaker Jayson Woodbridge attributes the name to his grandfather (and winemaking mentor), who would describe his vineyard's soil as a complex layer cake, and who strove to impart those qualities in his wines. This shiraz is one of several vintages made by Layer Cake Wines; the company also produces a chardonnay, a cabernet, a malbec, and a primitivo/zinfandel.
How does it look? Layer Cake is a dark, deep purple in the glass, with
How does it look? Layer Cake is a dark, deep purple in the glass, with
Devil, You Say
by TJ Davis on July 2nd, 2010 | Australian Wine, Wine
If you said "Tasmanian" you would probably expect someone to follow with "devil", but would you ever expect to hear "wine"? If you have any interest at all in exceptional wines, you should. This small island state off the southeast coast of Australia is home to more than 300 wineries that are producing vintages to rival the best of Europe's best. Like the Pinot Noir of Burgundy, the Riesling of Germany, the Sauvignon Blanc of the Loir Valley, or the sparkling wines of Champagne, Tasmania produces exceptional quality wines in all varieties.
Unlike much of the rest of Australia, the
Unlike much of the rest of Australia, the
Marsanne at Tahbilk
by TJ Davis on June 9th, 2010 | Australian Wine, Wine
The Marsanne is a rare white grape variety grown in only four countries: France, United States, Switzerland and Australia. Thought to have been cultivated originally in the Northern Rhone Valley of France, Marsanne was introduced in the Nagambie Lakes region of Victoria, Australia in the early 1860's at Tahbilk, one of Australia's oldest and most beautiful wineries. Although none of the original vines from this first planting survived, cuttings made from them in 1927 remain some of the world's oldest producing vines. The vine took well to the Australian climate and the rare variety did very well at Tahbilk.
2006 Wolf Blass Brut
by TK on July 31st, 2008 | Australian Wine, Sparkling Wine, Wine
When you think of Australia you think of a fun-filled country full of spirit and jovial people. And the burgeoning wine business in Australia is very similar. Most of the reds are light and flavorful, but lack the depth of European or California reds. My wife and I are not big white wine drinkers, but on a recent celebratory trip to Emeril’s Restaurant in New Orleans, I decided on a bubbly white wine from Australia, a 2006 Wolf Blass Brut.
We were both pleasantly surprised and happy with the selection. The white was light and not too dry or sweet.
